Orpheum Concert Hall: 5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know

CBC/Huffington Post article

Here are five facts you probably didn’t know about the Orpheum:

1. It took less than a year to build (in 1927)

“It was a silent movie picture palace and a vaudeville house,” says Rob Haynes, president of the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame Society, the group organizing tours of the theatre.

2. The entire ceiling is hung by wires 

“The entire ceiling, throughout the theatre, including the dome, is all hung by wires,” says Haynes. “Thousands and thousands of wires. That’s why we don’t have any pillars inside of the concert hall.”

3. It is home to the ‘mighty Wurlitzer’

It’s the last Canadian theatre organ in its original location. And it’s still in use.

4. Parts of it were fabricated down the street

All of the ceiling treatments and concrete railings were brought to the Orpheum by horse and carriage.

5. Frank Sinatra was almost booted out

When he was young, he broke dressing room lights while practicing his golf swing.

Orpheum Tours are available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, until the end of August. The tours start at 11 a.m., at the Orpheum’sGranville Street entrance. Just show up at the entrance by 10:50 a.m., or reserve a spot by calling 604-665-3470. The cost for the 90-minute tour is a $10 donation, per person.